Northern San Luis Obispo County Coastal Trail Master Plan

Master Plan Recommendations
and designers, based on project-specific agreements, to plan, design, and implement shoreline protection for
the CCT as an integral part of Caltrans’ efforts to protect the Highway 1 facility.
Based on project-specific design and maintenance agreements, Caltrans should take responsibility for
maintenance of the shoreline protection for the Highway and the CCT in these situations. Where and when
the Highway is relocated inland due to coastal bluff retreat, Caltrans will coordinate with SLO County, the
SCC, the CCC, DPR, and/or other CCT partners, to plan and implement the relocation of the CCT, as is
occurring at the Piedras Blancas realignment.
4.2.8 Highway Crossings
There is one location, at San Carpoforo Creek, where the recommended alignment crosses the Highway. In
other cases connections to the east side of the Highway exist or are recommended to connect to important
visitor destinations and facilities, and other trails. These crossings may also allow bicyclists travelling on the
northbound (east) or southbound (west) shoulders of Highway 1 to cross to these destinations more safely.
There are two ways to create a formal crossing of the Highway: an at-grade crossing, or an undercrossing at an
existing highway bridge.
At-Grade Crossings
There are four existing signalized bike/pedestrian crossings on Highway 1 in the Study Area, all within
Cambria. The only at-grade crossing recommended in this Master Plan is at the entrance to the Hearst Castle
Visitor’s Center opposite San Simeon Road, to accommodate trail users and other bicyclists and pedestrians.
Establishing a new crosswalk on a State highway can be challenging due to heavy, fast traffic and Caltrans’
standards for warrants and safety concerns. Hybrid beacons or other actuated pedestrian crossing treatments
may be appropriate for this location. In any case, a formal study of the need, feasibility, and design of such a
crossing would be a necessary step. An at-grade crossing is also conceptualized in San Simeon Village in the
North Coast Area Plan, but the Master Plan does not incorporate this as a recommendation.
Bridge Undercrossings
Undercrossings exist or could potentially be created where highway bridges cross major drainages. A new
undercrossing is recommended on the south side of the San Carpoforo Creek Bridge. Existing undercrossings
are located at the San Simeon State Park campground on the north and south sides of San Simeon Creek.
Another undercrossing exists on the south side of the Pico Creek Bridge. Given their connections to other
unpaved trails, these undercrossings are envisioned to be unpaved, but could be paved to provide more formal
access. Depending on configuration of the bridge and the surrounding site, such undercrossings may be
subject to seasonal flooding, an important issue for their feasibility and design.
4.2.9 Shoulders for Road Bikes
The goals of the CCT include accommodating bicycles along the entire length of the coast, at a minimum along
the shoulders of Highway 1. For long-distance or “through” cyclists and serious local cyclists, the highway
shoulder is the most desirable location, provided there is adequate paved width; at minimum four foot
shoulders outside the vehicle lanes and ideally eight-foot shoulders where feasible, as this is the Caltrans
standard shoulder width per the Highway Design Manual. Serious cyclists typically prefer shoulders to a
mixed-use path or trail that is shared with pedestrians, especially if the separated facility is more circuitous.
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